From this afternoon's press conference - my Q and A at the end with Michael Carrick...
Q: We have conceded a lot of late, late goals this season that have been so costly. How do we stop leaking injury time goals?
MC: Don't have injury time (laughs). That is part of football. First minute. Last minute. Every minute is the same. Same importance. Whether you start as an individual and you are on the pitch from the 1st minute or you come on and you are on for 4 mins or 10 mins at the end, finishing the game is almost that extra importance because the game can be throwing up all sorts of different things.
That is just the game... that is the game. Sometimes when you are a little bit tired and your legs are tired, sometimes mind can get a little bit tired and that is the challenge of concentration. I will throw in that word, concentration. Everyone needs to concentrate but actually what does that mean and how do you do it best? A lot of is that when you feel like you are getting tired. But it is something again that we will work on, in terms of what has happened too much at the start of the season or whatever.. I am more worried about what we are going to do tomorrow or next week or the week after. That is what we are striving to do and get back.
Q: So, everyone must have been stunned in the immediate aftermath but do you feel you will be able to pick everyone up before tomorrow at Hull?
MC: We were up straight away, yes. Sunday morning we were training in here. The boys were really good. We were looking forward the game on Tuesday without forgetting what had happened. You have got to use that as a bit of fire and motivation and put things right. But at the same time the game has gone, so you can't put that right but you have just got to get better. And tomorrow is the next chance to do that.
Q: How was it for you for a first game and for the players to have such a big away following at Preston. And even though it is midweek there will be no doubt a big crowd again travelling to Hull.
MC: Honestly as a coach and as a player to have a following like that makes such a difference. To have that connection with the fans. And it is important for us for them to see us trying to do the right thing, working hard, working together, being part of a team. And striving to improve and get better and have that connection and appreciation of the effort they are making to come and support us.
We are desperate, I am certainly desperate to give them something to shout about and to create that momentum again, moving forward and really positive. Yes, hugely appreciative, the players all went over and hopefully recognise what the connection and how important it is and we will certainly try to carry that on.
Q: We have conceded a lot of late, late goals this season that have been so costly. How do we stop leaking injury time goals?
MC: Don't have injury time (laughs). That is part of football. First minute. Last minute. Every minute is the same. Same importance. Whether you start as an individual and you are on the pitch from the 1st minute or you come on and you are on for 4 mins or 10 mins at the end, finishing the game is almost that extra importance because the game can be throwing up all sorts of different things.
That is just the game... that is the game. Sometimes when you are a little bit tired and your legs are tired, sometimes mind can get a little bit tired and that is the challenge of concentration. I will throw in that word, concentration. Everyone needs to concentrate but actually what does that mean and how do you do it best? A lot of is that when you feel like you are getting tired. But it is something again that we will work on, in terms of what has happened too much at the start of the season or whatever.. I am more worried about what we are going to do tomorrow or next week or the week after. That is what we are striving to do and get back.
Q: So, everyone must have been stunned in the immediate aftermath but do you feel you will be able to pick everyone up before tomorrow at Hull?
MC: We were up straight away, yes. Sunday morning we were training in here. The boys were really good. We were looking forward the game on Tuesday without forgetting what had happened. You have got to use that as a bit of fire and motivation and put things right. But at the same time the game has gone, so you can't put that right but you have just got to get better. And tomorrow is the next chance to do that.
Q: How was it for you for a first game and for the players to have such a big away following at Preston. And even though it is midweek there will be no doubt a big crowd again travelling to Hull.
MC: Honestly as a coach and as a player to have a following like that makes such a difference. To have that connection with the fans. And it is important for us for them to see us trying to do the right thing, working hard, working together, being part of a team. And striving to improve and get better and have that connection and appreciation of the effort they are making to come and support us.
We are desperate, I am certainly desperate to give them something to shout about and to create that momentum again, moving forward and really positive. Yes, hugely appreciative, the players all went over and hopefully recognise what the connection and how important it is and we will certainly try to carry that on.